Interview With Jaclyn Dolamore

I'm very excited to introduce Jaclyn Dolamore, author of Magic Under Glass which I absolutely loved!

1. How would you describe your writing?

I'm not sure the author is the best person to describe her own writing. But, what I aspire to is writing that is simple and accessible but also literary and evocative. I think the best children's books throughout history have writing like this, and I've always been very inspired by the writing in classic children's books.

2. What gave you the idea for Magic Under Glass?

Like many books, the idea sort of built up over time, coming from that mysterious place in the subconscious where inspiration stews.

3. What kind of research did you have to do for Magic Under Glass?

I read a lot of books on the Victorian era in America and England, as much as I could on the history of automata, and I looked at books of Victorian photography for description.

4. Did any other novels help to inspire Magic Under Glass?

Jane Eyre was a big inspiration, as anyone who has read both will notice. In fact, a few reviewers seemed grumpy that it took cues from Jane Eyre, but I tried to make it take some surprising turns.

5. What was the most challenging part of writing your novel?

Trying to get it right! It kept getting rejected by agents, but with encouraging replies, so I always thought I was close, and yet... no dice. I rewrote it completely twice before my agent signed it up and sold it to Bloomsbury.

6. What are some of your favourite books and authors?

I get this question a lot and repeat L. M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Maud Hart Lovelace ad nauseum, so I will go a little more current. In recent memory I really enjoy Kristin Cashore and Maggie Stiefvater. I think Clare Dunkle's Hollow Kingdom books deserve more attention. I've been loving the comic Fables. And I'm rereading Nancy Mitford's terrifically witty Love in a Cold Climate and In Pursuit of Love right now.

7. Finally, what are you writing next?

Next to be published is another historical-ish fantasy novel about a mermaid and a winged guy who fall in love. But I'm working on the Magic Under Glass sequel, called Magic Under Stone!